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Green Bay Packers receiver Jeff Janis (83) catches a Hail Mary against Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (21) and Rashad Johnson (26) at the end of the fourth quarter during their NFC divisional playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Evan Siegle/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis (83) botches a kick off return that left the team stuck on their two yard line during the third quarter of their game Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Fedex Field in Landover, Maryland. The Washington Redskins beat the Green Bay Packers 42-24.
MARK HOFFMAN/MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM Mark Hoffman, Mark Hoffman

Green Bay Packers' Jeff Janis (83) takes a moment before standing up after missing a catch in the 4th quarter during their game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Danny Damiani/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis (83) runs after a catch against the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter as the Green Bay Packers host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, November 6, 2016, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Colts defeated the Packers, 31-26. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis (83) drops a potential touchdown pass pf the 10 yard line during the second quarter of their game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers' Jeff Janis drops a pass after beating in the second quarter as the Green Bay Packers host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, November 6, 2016, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

GREEN BAY – Jeff Janis never gained traction as a receiver, and he lost his kickoff return job to Trevor Davis last season, but his value to the Green Bay Packers extended beyond social media fame as a fan favorite.

Nobody on the Packers' roster matched Janis’ combination of size (6-3, 219 pounds) and speed (4.42 40). It helped him become their top coverage player on special teams. Janis flourished as a gunner on punts, helping rookie Justin Vogel set a franchise record with a 41.6-yard net average last season.

The Packers will need to replace Janis’ unsung production this fall. After four years in Green Bay, the former seventh-round receiver signed with the Cleveland Browns on Friday.

Janis is just the latest Packer to join the Browns, a franchise led by former Packers college scouting director John Dorsey. It started when Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith — the Packers' top two executives behind new GM Brian Gutekunst — joined Dorsey’s front office in January. Earlier this month, the Packers traded top cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland for backup quarterback DeShone Kizer.

Janis might get a chance as a receiver in Cleveland, but his most prominent role is sure to remain on special teams. While Randall’s production was easier to track — he led the Packers in interceptions last season with four — Janis’ ability to influence field position will be missed.

The Packers ranked sixth in lowest opponent punt return average (5.7 yards) last season, allowing just 40.8 percent of Vogel’s punts to be returned. Of those not returned, 57.1 percent were the result of a fair catch. The longest punt return allowed was 28 yards.

Janis was a gunner on each of Vogel’s 71 punts, facing a double-team block on more than 40 percent of those snaps. He was first to arrive downfield in coverage 24 times and second 19 times. He only had four tackles, but a review of his punt-coverage snaps showed Janis forced nine fair catches and assisted on seven others.

The Packers must’ve determined they had enough capable gunners ready to be replacements. Receiver Trevor Davis, safety Josh Jones and perhaps cornerback Demetri Goodson could be among the rotation.

Though he isn’t a gunner on punt coverage, Janis’ absence could be an impetus for outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell to remain on the roster. Fackrell, like Janis, hasn’t showed consistent production at his listed position, and the Packers could overhaul their outside linebacker depth chart before the fall. At 6-5, 244 pounds with a 4.72 40, Fackrell might now be the Packers' most impressive package of size and speed.

Fackrell led the Packers with 354 special-teams snaps last season, while Janis was third at 247.

In four years, Janis had 17 regular-season catches on 38 targets for 200 yards and one touchdown coming at Atlanta in 2016.

He’ll be best remembered for two catches near the end of the Packers' divisional-round loss at the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFC playoffs. On fourth-and-20 from their own 4 with 55 seconds left, quarterback Aaron Rodgers found Janis for a 60-yard bomb down the left sideline. Three plays later, Janis caught a 41-yard Hail Mary to push the game into overtime, where the Packers eventually lost.

A season later, Janis was expected to make a leap at receiver. It never happened, but his special-teams contributions made the Packers a better team. Now, they’ll need someone to fill the void.